Indian Economy News

India Launches Nuclear Energy Mission, Targets 100 GW Capacity by 2047

With a focus and a vision, India now pursues a Nuclear Energy Mission with a series of strategies that target making approximately 100 GW of Nuclear Energy capacity by 2047 by means of using existing and newer technologies through Make in India and international cooperation, explains Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. According to the plan, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is expected to provide 54 GW of capacity through the construction of a series of new nuclear power stations using indigenous Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and Light Water Reactors (LWRs) along with international cooperation. To achieve availability of Decentralized and Scalable Nuclear Energy, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is presently embarking upon designs and developments of Small Modular Reactors comprising 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor-BSMR-200 and 55 MWe SMR-55. These designs and developments are aimed towards using these Nuclear Reactors as Captive Power Plants dedicated to Energy-Intensive sectors like Aluminium and Steel, from where old fossil fuel-based stations are shutting down, and also towards providing Clean Energy Services and Support to remote and off-grid areas," adds Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi.
India is also developing a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor with capacities up to 5 MW. According to FY25 Budget announcement allowing private sector participation, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has issued a request for proposal for setting up 220 MW PHWR-based “Bharat Small Reactors” with capacities up to 220 MW as Small Reactors. With its technology mature on 700 MWe PHWRS as well as Small Reactors such as BSMR-200 & SMR-55 in place, with most hardware within the capability of Indian Industries available with current indigenous capability supplemented by Research and Development (R&D) activities in the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), nuclear power with its non-carbon emissions is expected to assume even more significance in this clean transition and move towards “Net Zero” by 2070.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.